Thieves Spoil Vacation

A Mission Beach woman and some friends lost about $50,000 in goods, most of it in jewelry, when some of their suitcases were stolen from a van they were packing to leave for vacation, police said.

Among the goods stolen from 52-year-old Charlotte Kobey and her family friends included a $15,000 ring, a $10,000 pin and an $8,000 necklace, said San Diego Police spokesman Dave Cohen. The incident happened just after 4 a.m. in the 2800 block of Oceanfront Walk.

Kobey is the wife of the late Monte Kobey, founder of Kobey's Swap Meet, who died last October.

Police said the van had been left unlocked and unattended in an unlocked garage. When Kobey and her friends came back about 10 minutes later, seven of eight suitcases had been stolen, Cohen said.